Scammers continue to send hoax emails to eBay users with varying twists to trick them into responding. The technique, called phishing, involves sending emails that are made to look like they are coming from eBay. Phishing emails received this week from eBay users include one that invited the recipient to join eBay's Powerseller program, and another that offered a prize. "eBay offers this month a great promotion for members. All you need to do is to Click Here and enter this number 48nd3sak4wd in the key box," read one such email. The hyperlinks in the hoax emails lead to spoof sites - sites made to look like the legitimate eBay site, but are in fact scam sites that collect user information. The scammers then use the information to commit identity theft or pursue other eBay scams, like sending false "second chance offers" to eBay buyers.

Several publications have been writing this week about an alleged new technique phishers are using to trick recipients into clicking on a valid eBay link that is then redirected to the spoof site. (http://www.betanews.com/article/eBay_Redirect_Becomes_Phishing_Tool/1109886753).